Mdili S. Katemani is a Tanzanian plant health and phytosanitary specialist with over 15 years of experience in agricultural trade facilitation, pest risk management, and crop protection. He currently serves as Manager for Plant Health Compliance and Trade Facilitation at the Tanzania Plant Health and Pesticides Authority (TPHPA), where he leads the development of phytosanitary dossiers, market access proposals, operational guidelines, and training programs for exporters, farmers, and agricultural officers.
Previously, he was Officer in Charge of Plant Quarantine and Phytosanitary Services under the Ministry of Agriculture, overseeing 36 national border posts and ensuring compliance with international plant health regulations. Earlier roles include Senior Agricultural Officer in Plant Health Services and a Research Fellow at KU Leuven, Belgium, where he specialized in molecular nematology and RNAi strategies for banana pest management.
Mr. Katemani holds a Master’s degree in Nematology from Ghent University, Belgium, and a Bachelor of Science in Agronomy from Sokoine University of Agriculture, Tanzania. He has contributed to regional and international plant health initiatives, serving as Tanzania’s coordinator for several projects under FAO, CABI, EU-BTSF, EAC, and SADC. His work includes consultancies for FAO and CABI on phytosanitary training manuals and inspection procedures.
With extensive international exposure—including representing Tanzania at the Commission on Phytosanitary Measures (CPM) in Rome, South Korea, and Belgium—he is recognized for his expertise in pest surveillance, phytosanitary certification, and biosecurity. He is also a published author on plant health and integrated pest management and continues to champion safe trade in agricultural commodities while safeguarding plant resources in Tanzania and the wider region.